In my experience, we either take a stand for Christ or we remain neutral toward whatever people might suggest to us. Imagine someone, let’s say a worldly person, approaches you by presenting a hair-raising conspiracy theory to you. Actually, that happened to me two times lately. One person was convinced that her child had become severely sick due to kerosene emission by aircraft… 🙄 Conclusion: this person finally found someone on the internet who not only sold grossly overpriced (and overdosed!) dietary supplement, but who also offered bloodcurdling nonsense to prove his theory. Since no doctor could help her in the past, as she said, yet this person on the net eventually could, she now seems to take everything this man utters at face value. Sigh.

The other person confronted me with something that really made me shudder with disgust. How much has Satan blinded this world? To its fullest as it seems. What she suggested was that… [I know that many of my readers are Americans, therefore it is even more for me difficult to repeat such far-fetched and mindless drivel] … she said that she would believe that the Americans themselves had caused nine eleven. Shock!! I told her that this was obviously a conspiracy theory. Then she got upset with me and added that more and more people would believe this today. These ‘facts’ had been presented in a documentary on TV and this ‘truth’ could be read in various places on the internet as well.

Actually, does that imply that the more people believe something, the truer it gets? I am afraid, the opposite is true at times. Once again, the internet seems to be trusted by many who, with all due respect, cannot discern the spirits as they do not know God, either. It is not their fault, though! But it is saddening for me to see how Satan can use social media, websites and blogs in order to manipulate people in any way possible. 😦 What do you think about the following quote from the Puritan Thomas Brooks who wrote the book ’Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices’. He said,

Satan loves to sail with the wind, and to suit men’s temptations to their conditions and inclinations. If they be in prosperity, he will tempt them to deny God (Proverbs 30:9); if they be in adversity, he will tempt them to distrust God; if their knowledge be weak, he will tempt them to have low thoughts of God; if their conscience be tender, he will tempt to scrupulosity; if large, to carnal security; if bold-spirited, he will tempt to presumption; if timorous, to desperation; if flexible, to inconstancy; if stiff, to impenitency.

Note: Thomas Brooks described the way Satan continuously tries to lead Christians with their individual personalities away from the Lord and from the truth that can only be found by knowing Him in a very personal way. However, what about non-Christians who do not try to please God due to a lack of personal knowledge? 🙄 In fact, Satan can do with them as he pleases since they who do not follow Jesus are still in darkness (cf. Jn 8:12) and “[t]he one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.” (Jn 12:35 ESV) Even if you find some nice and friendly worldly people, often confused with Christians as they might be churchgoers, too, if they do not have Christ’s Spirit INSIDE (!) them, they do not belong to Him (see Rom 8:9). Period.

Therefore, if we do not want to be ruled by other spirits than Christ’s, we must be cautious to never submit to these spirits approaching us almost every day (the frequency depends on how often we have to do with other people). Finally, how can it happen that we, unknowingly, submit to these false spirits then? It simply happens if we want to please these people more than Christ. Then we won’t draw the line which would be most essential in these cases. Brothers and sisters, I do know how hard it is to let people alone and to go back to Christ by obeying Him. But if we obey, being blessed by His presence is worth it all! ❤

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 1: 1-6 ESV)

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29 thoughts on “Getting Detached”

Yes Sue I once had a conversation with the Lord while spending time with a friend in a hospice who was dying of cancer.I had been reading a book on the different teachings about sanctification and was trying to figure out which one was right.Suddenly Father said get out a piece of paper and draw a triangle.He said who goes on top? I said you,Ok how about the two bottom corners? I said well satan in one and humans in the other.Now He said who can you trust? I said obviously you,and satan is a no go! But what about humans? why can I not trust them? He answered that humans are too easily decieved but I am of the truth so simply listen to what I tell you.

Thank you for another insightful post, Susanne. The observation by Brooks was highly perceptive.

I’ve heard such conspiracy theories, as well. The internet is filled w/ them. Proponents of the now debunked Pizzagate believed that the hacked email of Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager, John Podesta, contained coded messages referring to human trafficking. Claims are made that Elvis Presley’s death was faked, but that Paul McCartney died in 1966 and was replaced by a look-alike. Neonazis deny the Holocaust took place.

The Apostle Paul warns us in Colossians 2 not to be deceived by persuasive words or the philosophies of men. We are to be rooted in Christ who is the source of all wisdom and knowledge.

You are very welcome, Anna. I recall you wrote a blog post about several conspiracy theories lately, too. 🏆🏆🏆 👍🏻 The examples you mentioned here are so typical of how the devil tries to twist our minds. Some of them are easy to find out, others are not. The most difficult for us to discern is still the kind and loving ‘Christian’ who operates in another spirit, claiming to know God’s heart, thoughts, plans and will. Sadly enough, he believes himself he knows God. 😢

I have heard that an idea, repeated often enough, becomes the truth. It doesn’t have to BE true, of course. This is the basis for propaganda of all sorts. Social media is especially vulnerable to this type of repetition.

Dear Susanne, This is a very timely post, for sure. It truly seems that the Prince of the Air, Satan, controls the airwaves and the internet. Men may monitor the media and control the dissemination of “fake news.” but who is monitoring the monitors? The truth is only found in THE Truth, Jesus Christ. We were warned by Paul about these times we are in:

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2Tim 3:12-13, ESV2011)

“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2Thess 2:9-12, ESV2011)

Jesus said, “I am the way, THE TRUTH and the Life, No man comes to the Father but by me.”

Jesus said that Satan was “a liar and a murder from the beginning.” He tempts us all with the same polished techniques that he has used from the beginning in the garden against Adam and Eve appealing to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. We sure can see his activity in fallen man today. I do not think any person will be able to avoid the mass deceptions that are taking place without yielding to the Holy Spirit and truly loving the Truth that is ours as we abide IN Christ with all our hearts. Sad to say, some of the most deceived among men are the ones calling themselves, “Christian.” As Jesus warned,

“Not every one that says unto me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out demons? and in your name done many wonderful works?’ And then will I profess unto them, ‘I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.'” (Matt 7:21-23, KJ2000)

I love that passage from Psalm one. It sure fits. I also love those pictures you took on this blog. What a scenic place you live in!

May “the eyes of our understanding be enlightened; that we may know what is the hope of his calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.” Amen.

Thank you so much for your encouraging words, Michael! 😇 I am glad you found the blog was timely. 😊

Yes, as a student of one of Nuremberg’s universities more than thirty years ago I was enthusiastic about moving to this particilar city. Meanwhile I usually visit these scenic places less than every other year, if at all. That reminds me of people who live close to the mountains, 🏔🏔🏔 but never climb them 🚵🏼‍♀️ or others who live by the seaside and avoid swimming in the ocean. 🌊🏊🏼‍♀️🌊🐋🌊😅

Wow! It has been thirty years ago since you were in college? God has kept you looking so young! I think that surrendering our lives to Christ has something to do with it. I surrendered to Christ when I was 25 and am now 73, yet when people ask me my age, they say that I look much younger than I am. The younger we are when He comes in to live within us, the less years that Satan has to move in us with the deteriorating forces of aging and death.

Jesus said “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” I think our eternal lives start when the Eternal One comes in and makes His abode within us, don’t you? What a wonderful salvation we have IN Christ!

You are His treasure in the Son, Susanne,💎 and it has been a blessing getting to know you after the Spirit within you. 😇 💗 (2 Cor. 5:16)

Thank you for the compliment, Michael. Even if we look younger than we are, our bodies are aging and there are days when I feel very old due to several body pains. I think you know what I mean here… 😝

It has been a great blessing for me over the last 4 1/2 years to walk with you by the Spirit. Ups and downs included, our fellowship given by God is eternal and I am so grateful that HE put us together. 🤹🏼‍♀️💞💫😄

Yes, Susanne, I KNOW what you mean, for sure. I have had to deal with arthritis pain since I was about 26 and for the last two years with chronic back pain and mussel spasms due to a broken vertebrae, but…
“Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” (2Cor 4:16-17, NKJV)

Amen! By comparison, our pains and sufferings of this present time is not worthy to be compared to His glory which is being revealed within us. This is what makes our fellowship so meaningful… Christ in us, don’t you think? And HE prayed:

“And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” (John 17:22-23, NKJV)

Susanne, please bear with me. I found the following in a TAS writing that speaks to our growing fellowship IN the Son…

“We see much that is not the Lord Jesus in one another now; the day is coming when you will see nothing but the Lord Jesus in me, and I shall see nothing but the Lord Jesus in you; we shall be “conformed to the image of His Son”: His moral glory will shine out and be displayed; Christ will be “all, and in all.” God has determined it, and what God has determined, He will have. This, then, is the explanation of the creation, that Christ may be all, and in all, and among all have the pre-eminence.” (http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/000617.html)

“It does not yet appear what we shall be, but when He appears we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.” Seeing with spiritual eyes is believing and true faith transforms us into His likeness. It is a joy to be on the transforming journey with you, dear sister.

“Seeing with spiritual eyes is believing and true faith transforms us into His likeness. It is a joy to be on the transforming journey with you, dear sister.”

Amen, my dear brother. It is a joy whenever we look at one another with spiritual eyes and when we hear His voice speak through the other. I wonder whether it is often only the fault-finding fleshly eye that is focused on spotting the faults in our brothers and sisters? Since if God only sees Christ as He looks at us, it seems to be necessary that our spiritual eyes should get some divine adjustment.

“From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2Cor 5:16-17, ESV2011)

“And the glory which you gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me.” (John 17:22-23, KJ2000)

Father, that we who are yours might truly be made ONE in your Son. Amen.

I so agree with both Michael and yourself Susanne. Both of you are such an inspiration, bouncing comments that truly reflect a kindred spirit. We are all blessed by your camaraderie with one another. Blessings to you both, (And to all your comment-ers).

It’s so sad, how the deception from this one entity has grown tentacles reaching the globe, just as Jesus told us it would. Having a personal relationship with Christ is of important’s to keeping the rebellious one at bay. As you have mentioned, Christ in us (in our heart and soul), in that relationship we see the raw truth from His perspective. In which most can’t handle the truth, for it points to misconduct, points to our misdeeds. And instead of repenting and finding forgiveness, it’s hidden in make-believe that sparsely keeps the peace between brothers let alone God’s. sad. Knowing our Savior is the calming balm we need, the calming aspect in a world rushing itself to extinction.
Prayers are needed, continually.
The end of the Lord’s Prayer we pray, “…But deliver us from the evil ONE.”, not just evil. Our lives are intertwine with the Spirit of love and truth VS the spirit of lies and deceptions, who we choose is the deciding factor that determines our eternal life or our eternal death. There’s no gray lines. God alone is our Life Giver and agape love is His essence.

Getting detached from the world is a process only God can help one with in faith and trust, for each of us have our own personal baggage that needs to be purged to reflect His goodness. Through His Son we have forgiveness and a new inner life that carries us through the trials and challenges this world brings. Hence ‘being in the world but not part of..’. Living in it must be Christ centered, He is our guiding light and our strength to endure. Although there’s darkness before the dawn of a new day. A new glorious day IS coming and knowing this is our hope of going home. Therefore lets keep our focus on doing God’s will, that the world may see He is truly in us and we in Him.

Thank you for sharing such an insightful post. Always looking up! Blessings always!

TLC, thanks for your comment. It truly is a joy to communicate by His Spirit with another saint. My exchanges with Susanne over the last five years have truly been a blessing. We have often wondered if God would let us write blog articles together more than He has, but I think He has as I read the flow of our comment chains together. 🙂 We have our dry spells, too, but He uses that to get us to pray for one another. Solomon wrote,

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” (Eccl 4:9-10, ESV2011)

This “one man band” mindset of the churches today is an easy target for the devil. “Smite the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.” Jesus always sent the disciples out by twos and Paul never traveled alone. He also appointed ELDERS (plural) in the churches and there is no mention of a “chief” elder anywhere. David had it figured out a long time ago. “The LORD is my Shepherd…”

“Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of HIS pasture.” (Ps 100:3, ESV2011)

So sorry for late moderation and reply, dear TLC. 😦 The reason is that I just found your comment incidentally in my WordPress trash folder before deleting its content, something that happens pretty often on here. I have no clue WHY it happens, though… 🙄

You are very welcome as to this post. Thank you for your encouraging words regarding Michael’s and my writings. Much appreciated! 🙂

Yes, the deception everywhere seems to be getting stronger and stronger. Looking at Christianity’s development could make someone sad. BUT prayer, as you already mentioned, is VERY important, indeed! Sometimes I even think it is the most important, though invisible, ministry we can have in New Covenantal times. Our God is Spirit, the kingdom of God inside us is invisible, too, so why should man-made ministry that can be perceived with our five senses by other human beings be more important than asking God for His perfect help in every case? 🙄

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“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."
(John 3:16-17 ESV)

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